Big albums to get excited about in 2018

Arctic Monkeys are set to release their sixth album in 2018
Credit: CBS via Getty Images

Get ready for a massive 12 months in music

As Christmas approaches, so album releases for this year are slowing down to the bare minimum of festive themed records, greatest hits collections and the odd big name record. Just because the music world is taking a little break doesn’t mean there’s nothing to get excited about, though. Next year already looks set to be embarrassingly good, quite frankly, with some major new releases already on the cards. Let us guide you through some of the biggest and most exciting albums confirmed, expected or just anticipated to be gifted to us in 2018.

Click or tap to zoom into this image

This is an image1of26

Jack White – ‘Boarding House Reach’

When's it out? TBA What's on it? Nothing has been confirmed at present apart from the first single ‘Connected By Love’. What has he said about it? "It’s good gardening music or roofing music or, you know, back-alley stabbing music. I’m trying to think of some good activities that people haven’t written songs for yet."

Click or tap to zoom into this imageImage credit: Redferns

This is an image2of26

Manic Street Preachers – ‘Resistance Is Futile’

When's it out? April 6 What's on it? "Widescreen melancholia", apparently. What have they said about it? A statement accompanying the record's announcement said: "The main themes of ‘Resistance is Futile’ are memory and loss; forgotten history; confused reality and art as a hiding place and inspiration. It’s obsessively melodic – in many ways referencing both the naive energy of ‘Generation Terrorists’ and the orchestral sweep of ‘Everything Must Go’."

Click or tap to zoom into this image

This is an image3of26

Charli XCX – ‘TBA’

When's it out? TBAWhat's on it? We'd expect massive single 'Boys' to be on there, but the tracklist is still under wraps.What has she said about it? "I’m not going to touch the album until two months before it’s going to come out, because if I started working on it again I would probably write another four albums."

Click or tap to zoom into this image

This is an image4of26

Fall Out Boy – ‘MANIA’

When's it out? January 19 What's on it? The Britney Spears-referencing 'Young And Menace', and the electro-rock of 'Champion'. What have they said about it? "Sonically, we are sewing multiple eras of – both our own band and own influences – together in a way that is completely new to us through both the production and writing process." - Pete Wentz

Click or tap to zoom into this image

This is an image5of26

Peace – ‘TBA’

When's it out? TBA What's on it? The band have yet to confirm any details, but they've been playing three new songs live of late - 'Kindness Is The New Rock'n'Roll', 'When You Were Young' and 'Mental Head'. What have they said about it? "It’s definitely like no record I’ve heard before. It doesn’t sound like anything that I can put my finger on – which is a good thing but it’s a scary thing as well." - Harry Koisser

Click or tap to zoom into this image

This is an image6of26

My Bloody Valentine – ‘TBA’

When's it out? TBA What's on it? There are no precise details confirmed, but the band have said it will likely be seven or eight tracks, and clock in at 40 minutes. What have they said about it? "In some respects, some of it is a bit straightforward. The MBV album that we did in 2013 feels more meandery and not as concise. This one is like if somebody took that and dropped some acid on it or created a dimensional clash or something. It’s more all over the place… The record I am making now is not so much about death and change as freedom of the soul." - Kevin Shields

Click or tap to zoom into this image

This is an image7of26

Craig David – ‘The Time Is Now’

When's it out? January 26 What's on it? Collaborations with Bastille, AJ Tracey and Kaytranada, amongst others. What has he said about it? "These songs feel like they’ll stand the test of time."

Click or tap to zoom into this imageImage credit: WireImage

This is an image8of26

Vampire Weekend – ‘Mitsubishi Macchiato’

When's it out? TBAWhat's on it? "Quite a cast characters", according to frontman Ezra Koenig.What have they said about it? "I wanted to do something that at least has elements of spring time you know because life has to keep going." - Ezra Koenig

Click or tap to zoom into this image

This is an image9of26

Major Lazer – ‘Music Is The Weapon’

When's it out? TBA What's on it? Collaborations with The Weeknd and Travis Scott, plus singles 'Cold Water', 'Believer', 'Run Up' and 'Know No Better'. What have they said about it? Not a whole lot.

Click or tap to zoom into this imageImage credit: Sergei Fadeichev/TASS

This is an image10of26

The Prodigy – ‘TBA’

When's it out? Early 2018 What's on it? No details as yet, but expect a first single before 2017 is out. What have they said about it? Not much, besides confirming it's on the way.

Click or tap to zoom into this imageImage credit: Redferns

This is an image11of26

Interpol – ‘TBA’

When's it out? TBAWhat's on it? They've been playing a new song 'Real Life' at their recent 'Turn On The Bright Lights' anniversary gigs, so that seems a shoe-in for inclusion. What have they said about it? Drummer Sam Fogarino told Pitchfork Radio they were working on "fist in the air arena rock ballads, all the way".

Click or tap to zoom into this imageImage credit: Getty Images for The Meadows Music & Arts Festival

This is an image12of26

Nicki Minaj – ‘TBA’

When's it out? TBA What's on it? There are no confirmed tracks from the work-in-progress at the moment. What has she said about it? "I know it’s going to be my best body of work."

Click or tap to zoom into this image

This is an image13of26

Bastille – ‘TBA’

When's it out? TBA What's on it? "Middle-of-the-night torch songs" with "slightly nostalgic rave beats from the Fatboy Slim, Prodigy era", apparently.What have they said about it? "Sometimes it’s necessary for your sanity to hone in on the things that you love and the people you enjoy hanging out with. It’s going to be a much more intimate, probably slightly more inward looking and fun record. It’s an apocalyptic party record." - Dan Smith

Click or tap to zoom into this imageImage credit: CBS via Getty Images

This is an image14of26

Arctic Monkeys – ‘TBA’

When's it out? TBA What's on it? Right now, we're very much in the dark on this.What have they said about it? Not much so far, but bassist Nick O'Malley has confirmed the band have been recording at a "secret location".

Click or tap to zoom into this imageImage credit: Redferns

This is an image15of26

The 1975 – ‘Music For Cars’

When's it out? TBA, but possibly June 1.What's on it? A song called 'Jesus Christ 2005 God Bless America', according to Matty Healy's Instagram.What have they said about it? "Our first three albums are the story of a person; it’s always kind of been my story. It spanned adolescence to maturity, success and trying to mediate the two, and the third one is where we are now. “I haven’t really decided the statement of where we are now yet. It’s sort of difficult to understand the present." - Matty Healy

Click or tap to zoom into this imageImage credit: Redferns via Getty Images

This is an image16of26

Julian Casablancas & The Voidz – ‘TBA’

When's it out? Early 2018 What's on it? Expect addictive new song 'Wink' to feature, as well as the fresh cuts aired on their recent South American tour. What have they said about it? "It’s sounding more sleek and polished, but it’s still futuristic prison-jazz." - Julian Casablancas

Click or tap to zoom into this imageImage credit: WireImage

This is an image17of26

MGMT – ‘Little Dark Age’

When's it out? TBAWhat's on it? Gothy comeback single 'Little Dark Age' is the only confirmed track so far, but expect 'When You Die' and 'Me And Michael', which were part of the band's summer setlists, to feature too.What have they said about it? "We felt like we had reached a flow, it was the sort of chemistry, the kind of magic feeling we had when we started the band." - Ben Goldwasser

Click or tap to zoom into this imageImage credit: Redferns

This is an image18of26

The Vaccines – ‘TBA’

When's it out? TBAWhat's on it? They aired three glossy tracks from the record over the summer - 'Surfing In The Sky', 'Your Love Is My Favourite Band', 'Rolling Stones'. What have they said about it? "It sort of builds on the musicality of ‘English Graffiti’, but I think there’s a lot more of spirit and energy from ‘What Did You Expect…' [It's about] sex and love, and love lost." - Justin Young

Click or tap to zoom into this imageImage credit: FilmMagic

This is an image19of26

Cardi B

When's it out? TBAWhat's on it? Cardi is currently working on the record, but she's got "six or seven solid" tracks so far. What has she said about it? She told Rolling Stone the record will mix Spanish and reggae music of her childhood with trap.

Click or tap to zoom into this imageImage credit: Getty Images

This is an image20of26

Chvrches – ‘TBA’

When's it out? TBAWhat's on it? They've been working with pop mega-producer Greg Kurstin so expect the follow-up to 'Every Open Eye' to be a glimmering pop force to be reckoned with. What have they said about it? "[Kurstin] pushed what we were doing to be bigger in some ways, but he also pushed us to be weirder. He’d be like, ‘If the vocal melodies are as sweet and as precise as this, why don’t we make these other sounds so f***ed up and gnarly and strange?’ I loved that." - Lauren Mayberry

Click or tap to zoom into this imageImage credit: Samir Hussein/WireImage

This is an image21of26

Selena Gomez – ‘TBA’

When's it out? TBAWhat's on it?No tracklisting has been confirmed at present, but hopefully every track is as banging as the Talking Heads-sampling 'Bad Liar'.What has she said about it? "I think it's fair to say that people know the year I've had, and I've poured my heart into my music and I wanted it to be fresh. It wasn't really about charts for me or numbers. It was more just about what I could creatively do for my music. So, yes, I can successfully say that my inspiration for this next album is in full motion and it will be very soon."

Click or tap to zoom into this imageImage credit: WireImage

This is an image22of26

Franz Ferdinand – ‘Always Ascending’

When's it out? February 9What's on it? New members (Dino Bardot and Julian Corrie replaced Nick McCarthy this year), a new producer (Phoenix collaborator Phillipe Zdar), and new tunes like the dancefloor-ready title track.What have they said about it? "This one sounds quite different from our previous records – it’s a bit wider and less of a ‘straight up guitar’ album. It’s just a taster. There are many more surprises to come.” - Alex Kapranos

Click or tap to zoom into this imageImage credit: Redferns

This is an image23of26

The Breeders – ‘TBA’

When's it out? TBAWhat's on it? Details are scarce, but the legendary band recently put out a song called 'Wait In The Car', a hooky, smart piece of rock, that will likely feature somewhere on the record.What have they said about it? Not a whole lot, at present.

Click or tap to zoom into this imageImage credit: Getty Images

This is an image24of26

Spiritualized – ‘TBA’

When's it out? TBAWhat's on it? Jason Pierce told The Quietus earlier this year that he didn't even know how to put the new album into words, so your guess is as good as anyone's.What have they said about it? "I wanted to make a record that made sense. There’s so much music out there. Every time I put on one of my favourite records I kind of think ‘what’s the point?’ because everybody’s said everything. I wanted to make this record really, really worthy of existing and worthy of being out there." - Jason Pierce

Click or tap to zoom into this imageImage credit: Redferns

This is an image25of26

Sunflower Bean – ‘TBA’

When's it out? TBAWhat's on it? The dreamy 'I Was A Fool', and other fresh new cuts the New York trip previewed on tour with Wolf Alice earlier this year.What have they said about it? "I think musically, we’re delving into escapism and fantasy, but lyrically we’re becoming a little bit more topical." - Nick Kivlen

Click or tap to zoom into this image

This is an image26of26

Pale Waves – ‘TBA’

When's it out? TBAWhat's on it? No details have been confirmed as yet, but we'd be surprised if at least one of their singles so far didn't make the cut.What have they said about it? "For the album, I’ve full-on unleashed everything. Once people hear the album, it’s stepping into Heather’s world, and they’ll really understand me as a person. It’s really exciting but scary at the same time." - Heather Baron-Gracie